Regulatory capital requirements (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Schedule of Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Table Text Block]

		Actual				Capital adequacy minimum requirement
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount	Ratio			Amount	Ratio
		2014
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	4,122,238	19.41	%	$	1,698,712	8	%
BPPR		2,973,500	17.00			1,399,664	8
BPNA		1,216,065	35.77			271,952	8
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	3,849,891	18.13	%	$	849,356	4	%
BPPR		2,749,051	15.71			699,832	4
BPNA		1,182,899	34.80			135,976	4
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
Corporation	$	3,849,891	11.94	%	$	967,505	3	%
						1,290,007	4
BPPR		2,749,051	10.63			775,566	3
						1,034,089	4
BPNA		1,182,899	20.01			177,376	3
						236,502	4

		Actual				Capital adequacy minimum requirement
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount	Ratio			Amount	Ratio
		2013
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	4,761,555	20.42	%	$	1,865,494	8	%
BPPR		2,607,018	14.76			1,413,292	8
BPNA		1,400,740	25.47			439,908	8
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
Corporation	$	4,464,742	19.15	%	$	932,747	4	%
BPPR		2,381,347	13.48			706,646	4
BPNA		1,331,471	24.21			219,954	4
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
Corporation	$	4,464,742	12.85	%	$	1,042,384	3	%
						1,389,845	4
BPPR		2,381,347	9.21			775,562	3
						1,034,083	4
BPNA		1,331,471	15.92			250,931	3
						334,575	4

Schedule Of Minimum Amount And Ratios To Be Categorized As Well Capitalized [Table Text Block]

		2014				2013
(Dollars in thousands)		Amount	Ratio			Amount	Ratio
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
BPPR	$	1,749,580	10	%	$	1,766,615	10	%
BPNA		339,939	10			549,885	10
Tier I Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets):
BPPR	$	1,049,748	6	%	$	1,059,969	6	%
BPNA		203,964	6			329,931	6
Tier I Capital (to Average Assets):
BPPR	$	1,292,611	5	%	$	1,292,604	5	%
BPNA		295,627	5			418,219	5

Schedule of Basel 3 Requirements [Table Text Block]

					Minimum Capital Plus Capital Conservation Buffer
	Minimum Capital		Well-Capitalized		2016		2017		2018		2019
Common Equity Tier 1 to Risk-Weighted Assets	4.5	%	6.5	%	5.125	%	5.750	%	6.375	%	7.000	%
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets	6.0		8.0		6.625		7.250		7.875		8.500
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets	8.0		10.0		8.625		9.250		9.875		10.500
Leverage Ratio	4.0		5.0		N/A		N/A		N/A		N/A